"Rockdale, my hometown, is Texas' heart and significant part of its soul," George Sessions Perry wrote in his book, Texas: A World Unto Itself. Perry wrote with lifelong affection about his hometown, first as a novelist and later as a magazine journalist. He describes the pioneers of Rockdale as typical of restless Southerners who hitched their wagons and moved to Texas after the Civil War. . . . Clay Coppedge . . .

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Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Another string of new drop awnings is this week being placed and Regal Rockdale will thereby be made to look still more "regaler."

Mrs. J.R. Rowland is having the carpenters adorn all her block of business houses on Main street with the new style awning. The firms affected are H.M. Campbell, Berlin & Adler, City Panitorium, and the Elite Cafe, a total frontage of more than 100 feet on Main street, with about 75 feet running west on Milam street.

New style awnings, street lights, cement sidewalks and concrete crossings are the biggest aids to town growth and development, and Rockdale is getting them all.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Probably the oldest citizen in Milam county is Mr. William Persky, of Sharp, who on Tuesday, November 21, reached his 100th milestone.

Mr. Persky has lived in Sharp for the past twenty years and is the father of five sons and a daughter, Mrs. E.J. Rinn, with whom he makes his home.

Mr. Persky is a native of Germany but has lived in Texas since a lad of eight years, coming to America at that age with his parents and settling in Austin county. He is a Confederate Veteran, the last in Milam county. Mr. Persky followed the farming industry most of his life. For the past four years due to ill health he has not led an active life. He is the grandfather of E.H. Rinn of Rockdale. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 72, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 23, 1944 Page: 20 of 20

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

James Malcolm Stewart, 25, of Katy, Texas, was kidnapped and brutally murdered near Waco last Saturday, his body being found in his car on a country road.

Young Stewart was the only son of Dr. and Mrs. J.M. Stewart, citizens of Rockdale in the early days. His father died on September 7, as recounted in these columns at the time. Young Stewart had been identified with the motion picture industry in California, but came back to Texas on the death of his father. He had driven his mother to Waco and placed her on a bus for a trip to visit relatives at Comanche. The next seen of him he was found dead as above stated.

Joe Averett, 23, and Roy Curry, 26, of Hubbard, were arrested Tuesday in connection with the murder and a series of car thefts and kidnappings which followed the death of Stewart. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 22, 1934 Page: 8 of 8

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Mrs. Hill, eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Walden, one of Rockdale's oldest families, was born and reared here. She graduated with the senior class of the Rockdale public school in 1892.

On April 8, 1896, Katherine Mae Walden was married to James H. Hill. . . . Mr. Hill, who inherited the thriving pioneer bookstore and jewelry business from his father, an early settler, passed away seventeen years ago.

Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Hill continued to run the business and in later years added a cold drink and confectionery department. . . .

Mrs. Hill*, known for her upright dealings and sterling traits of character was highly esteemed in Rockdale and throughout this section of Milam County. . . .

Friday, November 3, 2017

Miss Katie Lockwood, age 20 years, of Harris county, who had come to Rockdale a few weeks ago to make her home with her uncle, Henry Lockwood, was taken with black jaundice Wednesday night the 25, and died Friday at 12 o'clock. Her father died on the 29th of last month. Brother Henry Lockwood has the sympathy of all the good people of Rockdale in his bereavement. Rockdale Messenger. (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 3, 1898 Page: 8 of 8

Mortuary. John Ellis, one of the oldest citizens of Rockdale, died at the home of his daughter south of town Tuesday and was buried Wednesday in the new city cemetery, Rev. G.S. Tumlin, pastor of the Baptist church, officiating. Decedent was 68 years of age and came to Rockdale in the early days of the town's life. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 2, 1922 Page: 2 of 8

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Monday afternoon a number of ladies met at the home of Mrs. Fulton, this city, and Mrs. Emma G. Cobb, of Alvin, organized a chapter of Daughters of the Confederacy, to be known as Rockdale Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy. . . . Mrs. Cobb made the following timely remarks:

The days of the years of the sixties are numbered with the past; and where are the southern mothers? Nearly all have entered into rest. The few who remain -- grandmother's now -- with gray hairs and faltering steps, will soon join their dead in the land of peace. . . .